The AIF Project

Vernon Rudolph Adrian CURWEN

Regimental number3017
Place of birthBallarat, Victoria
SchoolMiddle Park State School, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationWarehouseman
Address339 Montague Street, Albert Park, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 7.5"
Weight143 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs A Curwen, 339 Montague Street, Albert Park, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of teeth)
Enlistment date10 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT RMS Osterley on 29 September 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll60th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records26
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 20), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
169
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James and Annie CURWEN, 339 Montague Street, Albert Park, Victoria. Native of Ballarat, Victoria
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 7th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 7 January 1916, and reverted to Private on joining the Bn.

Transferred to 59th Bn, 24 February 1916, and taken on strength.

Transferred to 60th Bn, 15 March 1916, and taken on strength, Tel el Kebir.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported Missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 860907, 5389 Corporal L.A. HALL, B Company, 60th Bn (patient, 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol, England), 17 December 1916: 'We attacked the German lines at 6.30 p.m. at Fromelles [and] within a few minutes I saw Curwen hit by shrapnel. He fell and never moved and I feel certain he was dead though I could not examine him.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.'

Second statement, 2878 Pte R.E. POULTER, 60th Bn, 29 January 1917: 'They [Curwen and 10 others] all went over the top on 19th July at Fromelles. We had 440 yds. to cross under heavy fire and a creek to get over into the bargain. None of these men answered a roll call. In my own mind they were all killed. We could not get any bodies in, most of which lay 100 yds. out in No Man's Land.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAAB2455 file 3480347
Red Cross File No 860907

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